Chapter Text
Simon still wasn’t used to being recognized by random people. He didn’t really think he was all that different. He still took the bus, still cooked with his mom, still had to go to school. Unfortunately, it seemed like the public did not get the memo.
One night after one of Rosh’s games, he and Wille were on the bus back to Hillerska. Normally they’d just stay at his house and get to see his mom but Wille had a big practice with the rowing club tomorrow morning.
The late bus was pretty quiet, with only a few other passengers, all stuck deep in their phones or, in one case, already asleep. Simon didn’t feel too out of place here. It was peaceful. Wille had already slumped down, head on his shoulder and dead to the world. A post-win dinner with Rosh and Ayub had taken the last of his social energy. Simon glanced down and smiled softly. He’d never get used to the feeling of being able to do this, in public, knowing that it was ok.
The sound of a camera echoed. Simon’s gazed snapped up to meet the blushing face of a girl, probably around his age. Her phone was pointed straight at them. She didn’t seem to have bad intentions. In fact, Simon could see the little rainbow pins scattered across her bag.
“Förlåt, ni är för söt!” she managed to stammer out, her voice heavy with an American accent and her face red with embarrassment. He chuckled, “Inga problem!”, no worries, he replied, after all, they were pretty cute.
The next day Wille poked Simon awake. He had clearly finished rowing practice and was trying to show him something on his phone, judging by the growing smirk and the fact that his phone was basically shoved in Simon’s face. Simon glanced at the screen to a post Wille had pulled up. Staring back at him was a picture of him and Wille on the bus, a backpack covered in pins peeked out of the corner. The caption?
“Never complaining about the night bus again, just saw these two gay icons and Simon even spoke to me? Can’t believe I had to use my crash course Swedish to talk to a literal icon #dead #ItsGoodToBeGay #PrinceWilhelm #DidntKnowHeRodeTheBusTBH #swedishexchangeprogram